Angelique's Descent

This is at the very top or near the top of the audios I have listened to. I've listened to a half dozen audiobooks each year for the past 20 years. My favorites would also include Fannie Flagg's Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man & Fried Green Tomatoes.

The original author (who just happened to play this character 1967-1971 on TV's Dark Shadows, and 2003-2015 in the ongoing audio series) really knows her stuff. She lives and breaths Angelique and writes of her very convincingly.

I've heard several of her audio performances, especially the recent Bloodlust audio drama, in which she was one of a dozen performers. 10 years or so ago she did an abridged Version of Angelique's Descent which had wonderful sound effects and another actor in some scenes. But this is an unabridged book, so every delicious word is here. It's an adventure story, so it's one part vacation around the world, and one part immersion into the best of the beloved soap opera.

It's too long to listen to in one sitting. It can be listened to for a couple of hours a day and be finished in about a week.

I read the book when this came out, but had forgotten how sexy it was. I enjoyed it immensely. It's a true benchmark.

By contrast, I'm reading and loving Harper Lee's new book. It's truly a sequel for the lives of well loved characters -- and it's not a ripoff, because it was written first. So nothing that might happen at the end of the book (even if Scout ends up murdering her father) -- nothing can spoil the fact we have an important, enjoyable new sequel. After I'd read about five chapters, I discovered Audible's audio version which I downloaded. I hate to say it, but after listening to the first 10 chapters of Go Set a Watchman, I'm stopping and going back to the book. I always thought that actress was so good. Aside from her accent being okay, I'm just sad that her reading isn't on a par with Ms. Parker's. I'll listen to the rest of the Go Set a Watchman audio on an upcoming trip, but I want to read the real book first.

It was such a treat listening to this book narrated as well as written by the amazing actress that brought the character to life in the original Dark Shadows!

It was so interesting hearing Angelique's "side of the story". We see how she was drawn to to the things she did.

I have listened to her performances on the Dark Shadows audio plays by Big Finish productions. Her performances are always so vivid and beautifully performed. I am always instantly drawn into her work.

I was particularly moved when Angelique discovered that Andre DuPres was actually her father and Josette and she were really half sisters.

I have been a Dark Shadows fan most of my life. It is reassuring that Lara Parker is so devoted to her fans that she wrote and continues to write these books so that we fans have a continuing tie to what has been an important part of our lives. Hearing her voice bring these characters to life is so exciting. Her characterizations are so entertaining and diverse the you are always kept involved in the story.

Just loved this book. We finally get to see how Barnabas and she knew each other. And her childhood was quite intriguing. A must for any Dark Shadows fan!

I loved the bood and Lara reading it was wonderful. Even tho I new all the story lines I was held.